Traveling to Japan can take on a whole different perspective if you’re a kid. Most travelers from English-speaking countries are intrigued by the country’s different language, dress, architecture and customs, even in modern Japan. If you’re headed with your family to Nippon for a vacation or holiday after school gets out, here are some things that will help your kids learn about Japanese culture while having fun at the same time:
1. Ride a bullet train. Japan’s high-speed trains travel at speeds of up to 320 km/h (200 mph), pretty cool if you’re a kid. These trains are also an efficient way to tour the country.
2. Visit an electronics store. Some of the electronics stores in Tokyo are as big as a New York City or London apartment block. Plus, there stores have items that aren’t yet for sale overseas. They are a teenager’s paradise.
3. Gaze at the neon lights. The neon billboards in Tokyo’s Shinjuku neighborhood are colorful, fanciful and intriguing, for kids of any age.
4. Master the art of origami. Japan’s paper art is a fascinating and fun way to learn about Japanese culture.
5. Sleep in a traditional Japanese accommodation. Sleeping on the floor, stand-up bath tubs, and paper walls: what’s not to love?
6. Sample ramen noodles. Ramen noodles, one of Japan’s favorite inexpensive foods, are available on practically every street corner. Slurp these delicious noodles with your kids. They’ll never want to have the grocery store variety again.
7. Visit a temple. The many Buddhist and Shinto temples, large and small, that dot the Japanese landscape combine art, religion and culture.
Going on holiday to Japan has plenty of exciting activities for the whole family! When you look at the country for a child’s point of view, you might just see Japan in a whole new light.
Like the rest of the team at InsideJapan, deciding on one place in Japan as my favourite is quite a challenge and regularly changes. Naturally I always think of my home in southern Kagoshima prefecture and so I’ve finally decided on the beautiful island of Yakushima – a two hour jet foil ride (or short flight) from Kagoshima city. I visited the island for a packed long weekend of hiking, swimming and meeting the island’s unique wildlife last summer.
The island and its forest is said to have inspired Hayao Miyazaki’s epic Princess Mononoke. Despite having a reputation for being one of the most rain-soaked places in Japan (they say it rains there 366 days a year), the beaches and swimming in summer are fantastic and I was disappointed not to have longer to spend there. With its steep terrain and unusual climate, Yakushima is one of Japan’s best natural wonders and is now on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Yakushima has some of the best hiking opportunities in Japan – from the shorter strolls in the dense forests of Yakusugi land and the Shiratani Unsuikyo forest to the 12 hour round trip to Joumon Sugi, the most famous and largest of the ancient cedar trees which fill the forests, aged somewhere between 3,000 and 1000 years old. Miyanoura dake (1867m) can be climbed with an overnight stay in one of the mountain huts. After a hard days walking, nothing beats relaxing in one of the island’s onsen.
Walking in the forest and even just driving round the island, there are monkeys and deer everywhere. Sea turtles come also onto Yakushima’s beaches to lay their eggs during the early summer and guides will allow you to go and watch during the evenings.
If you make it down to Kyushu, don’t miss out on a trip to Yakushima!
Intrepid tour leader Richard Pearce likes to get involved in Japanese culture stuck out there in rural Japan. Here is one of his latest little adventures….A tug o war – Japan style….
Misasa
At the invite of the town council, myself and a group of English teachers headed to Misasa, a beautiful spa town, to take part in a particularly special festival. Think tug-of-war, crazy Japanese style!
The name “Misasa” (三朝町) literally translates as “three mornings”. This stems from the belief that if one was to spend three mornings in the town’s famous hot springs, all ailments will be cured. Nestled in a mountainous river valley, Misasa is one of my favourite places in this beautiful country. Bubbling, steaming spas, young couples wondering the streets hand in hand dressed in robes and wooden slippers, wonderful traditional architecture dating back hundreds of years, dragonflies skimming across the surface of the numerous natural springs… it all makes for a very ‘Japanese’ experience. The town’s festival is equally as special.
Ready for battle
The Hanayu Festival has taken place every May for more than a hundred years and is essentially a time honoured battle of East v West. On the east of the river that bisects the town, are the farmers and other agricultural workers. On the west, are the other businesses owners, merchants and tradesmen. The festival takes place over two days, culminating in the grand finale, a tug of war, on the evening of the second day.
More than rope
The rope however, is no ordinary rope. Constructed in two parts from branches of an unknown (to me!), freshly harvested tree, the final rope weighs a massive 4 tons and stretches about 80 metres! One of the most refreshing aspects of Japanese life, from an Englishman’s point of view, is the absense of the ridiculous health and safety culture we have in the West. Of course basic safety precautions are met, but if you take part in an event where injury is a possibility, you do so at your own risk. If someone is injured, no one thinks of suing whoever they possibly can. You just brush yourself down and deal with it.
Big rope
On day one, not really knowing what to expect, we rocked up to the festival area to help make the rope. On arrival, we were all presented with a large cup of sake with which we were advised to drink with a pinch of salt. I was informed by the gentlemen pouring them out that they were for “health and safety purposes”. Now that’s more like it!! After a few hours of bashing and twisting, made less strenuous by the application of health and safety fluids, the ropes were ready. By sliding sturdy branches under it, the beastly rope was hoisted on to our shoulders and carried to their temporary resting places. Being tall is definitely not an advantage with this task, as the marks on my shoulders suggested. The scariest part of the whole process was when the ropes were dropped to the ground. Dropped at the head end first, it’s a matter of getting it off of your shoulders and getting out the way as quickly as possible. I escaped with a minor scratch down my back, much better than some unfortunate souls. However, no one will be seeking legal action.
Making the rope
On the second evening, after enjoying some grilled meat from the festival stalls and an impressive firework display, it was time for the main event. The two ropes were dragged into position and with great effort, joined together. Due to the huge bulk of the rope, the tug-of-war is more of a drag-of-war. On the starters mark, the battle commenced. About 20 minutes later and after much to-ing and fro-ing, my team, the east, emerged victorious. Traditional belief is that the east will have a good and productive year. I presume, for the farmers, the opposite is true. Exhausted, exhilarated and not a little bit sweaty, it was time to head to the hot springs to soak in the soothing waters and reflect on the evening’s exertions.
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A great experience and a great festival for the spectator.
When you join one of the InsideJapan Tours, you will probably be wondering what your tour leader will be like – will they be knowledgeable, will they be interesting, will you like them, will they have a secret life and rock star alter-ego?!?!?! Perhaps you won’t be considering the last question there, but with tour leader, Steve Parker, that’s what you’ll get. Steve, is interesting, knows his stuff and is a likeable chap, but he also has band in Tokyo. If you are thinking of making it big in Japan, here are a few tips from Steve..
Having spent a good few years of my life in Japan, the land that brought the world “karaoke” (empty orchestra), I have long strutted my stuff and strained the vocal cords to David Bowie, Muse, Billy Joel, The Kaiser Chiefs and endured painful renditions by 50-something tone deaf British men of Bohemian Rhapsody (vocally, no problem apparently) and the 12-plus minute long Stairway to Heaven (which rapidly descends into a fast track to hell!).
Hence 18 months ago, I really was starting to feel the emptiness of the orchestra and the urge to create something of my own. The obvious solution? Start a band.
A year and a half on, with limited success, I can proudly introduce myself as the vocalist of the completely unknown rock band, “The Cinders”, dedicated to introducing the locals to a little dark indie Brit-rock.
It has been a challenge to get to this stage, least of all the search for members in a city of millions. Thankfully the eternally painful task of finding a bassist was made easy with my friend, Justin’s, coincidental return to live in Tokyo.
We then uploaded online ads for “musicians sought” and they eventually appeared in the form of a male Japanese drummer and a lead guitarist. It took us around 8 months to become a 4-piece band, but a major part of the struggle was, of course, over. Now it was onto the easy stuff – the music and maintaining harmonious human relations within the band!
To practice in Japan is majorly hassle-free. In most Japanese cities there are underground bunker-like rehearsal studios or multi-storey affairs with 4 soundproof practice rooms or so on each floor. For around 2000yen (15 pounds) each you get a decent drum kit, guitar and bass amps, as many mikes as you can throw a (rhythm) stick at, and even a mirror on the front wall to see how you look when you are set up and playing!!! And, most importantly, 3 hours to make an aural mess!
So with hours of practice under our belts we were next ready to show the world what we had created. And herein lies the eternal challenge of performing live in Japan. Tokyo, being a megacoolopolis, suffers no lack of venues, however, there are 1000s of rock and punk, jazz and funk bands, troubled acoustic troubadours and colourful keyboard wizards vying to procure a night slot to play in.
Once you have an invite to play, unlike in your home countries perhaps, in Tokyo, it is the BAND that ends up paying to play. If, as we have been lucky enough to do recently, you manage to get on a bill with 3 or 4 other bands, the venue usually stipulates that you owe around 40,000yen (300 pounds) to start with. Any guests of yours that turn up pay nominally 1500yen (ten pounds) to hear your noise. That amount is subtracted from your final bill, so as in life in general, it’s good to have friends around, and friends that like your noise!!!. Oh, and they must buy at least one obligatory drink too, so as a band, we never expect to be bought a congratulatory drink after a gig!!
So there you have it – your band is part of the Tokyo scene. I have recently been putting up posters all over and contacting all I know in order to have someone to share our music with at gigs. People have come and the usually reticent crowd (unless at their favourite band’s gig, when they crowd surf to ballads), are always a little difficult to get moving to music that they are unfamiliar with. However, our confidence is growing, our wallets may be shrinking but Tokyo is starting to move to our music, even if it is for now just an embarrassed foot tap or head sway! I think we are on the road to a minor part in the Tokyo rock scene. Whatever our limited status, we still DON’T and never will however, do requests for old Queen or Led Zeppelin tracks!
The Cinders play live in and around the Tokyo Metropolitan area. Their only release to date is the Evenings EP– available on itunes.
Contrary to popular belief, Tokyo is not that expensive. In fact, it is generally a cheaper place to visit than say London or Rome (Think recent press about four ice creams for £54). Food is cheap, but without losing the quality, public transport is cheap and a pleasure to use and some of the main sights in Tokyo are free…completely free. So here are a few reasons to back up why Tokyo is so great and well, cheap.
Mt Fuji from Tokyo
Million dollar views for free You can’t grasp the size of the world’s biggest Metropolis until you look down on it from above. The city’s newest landmark, Tokyo Skytree will give you that extra few metres standing 634metres above Tokyo. The observation deck stands at 450 metres and cost 3000yen (approx £19.50) has been criticised by some as being too expensive (although it is the same price as the London Eye but gets you an extra 300 metres for your money). Alternatively (and still my favourite) the Shinjuku Metropolitan Government Building or Tocho, is one place that you can get a taste for Tokyo for free, 202 metres up above the city. Take the elevator up to the 48th floor and enjoy views of the city, across the sprawling suburbs out to Mt Fuji. A great place to watch the sun go down and the lights come up.
Free festival fun
Head to Tokyo at the right time of year and there are all sorts of traditional festivals to enjoy. The festival or matsuri, is a big part of Japanese life and culture and the chance to get involved with the locals. Every festival is different, but expect to see men and women of all ages in bright yukata, kimono, jinbe jackets and fundoshi loin cloths, portable Mikoshi shrines, lots of good food stands, fireworks and people enjoying a drop of sake. There are hundreds of festivals throughout the year and all are free. The Kanda Matsuri (closest weekend to 15th May), the Sanja Matsuri (3rd weekend in May), the Sumidagawa Fireworks festival (last weekend in July) and the
Places to people watch Take a stroll through some of Tokyo’s trendier districts on a Sunday to get a taste of modern culture. After taking a train journey for around a £1 or under $2, you could find yourself in Harajuku, browsing the cool shops. Walking over the bridge, passing the ‘Harajuku kids’, passing Meji Jingu Shrine in its beautifully forested grounds (free entry), you will find yourself in Yoyogi Park.
On a Sunday afternoon, you will find karate groups practicing, taiko drummers, rock and pop wannabes, comedians and more – A great place to people watch and relax.
Senbe rice crackers
Food for free
Eat for free!….well sort of. Feeling peckish? Head to one of Tokyo’s department stores and straight to the basement. You will find huge amounts of beautifully presented food in the gigantic and food halls of department stores such as Mitsukoshi and Takashimaya. You can stroll around sampling all sorts of Japanese delights. If you are wanting something more substantial, there are all sorts of options for just a few pounds/dollars. 100yen sushi – plates of good sushi costing approximately 65pence and under a dollar. A big bowl of hot ramen will set you back around 500yen (approx. £3.25 / $5). A convenience store bento box consisting of rice, fish, meat vegetables and more will cost around 400yen (less than £3/$5). And the best thing is that although cheap, the food is also good quality too.
Wandering on the cheap
The good thing about Tokyo is that it is the city and the people that are the real experience and not particular sights necessarily. Everywhere you go, you will find something new or stumble across something interesting. Just walking around amongst the lights and noises of Shibuya and Shinjuku, browsing food and clothes markets in Ueno, being wowed by floor upon floor of electronic goods in electronic department stores such as Yodabashi Camera, nipping into atmospheric little temples and shrines such as Sengakuji or exploring lesser known districts such as Kichijoji are all experiences in their own right. One of my favourite places to stroll is the retro Shibamata district. Low rise buildings, old fashioned shops selling traditional snacks and an attractive looking temple. Shibamata gives off a sleepy Tokyo feel, one of days gone by, oozing tradition and culture and is only a short journey from the buzz of the more famous districts. It is free to stroll and well worth breaking a way from the usual districts. There is something new for the Westerner around every corner in this great city, so there is no need to go and blow loads of cash on expensive tourist attractions.
There are plenty of other tips for discovering a free Tokyo as well as a good value and cheap Tokyo. I hope that this blog piece assists in expelling the myth that Tokyo is an expensive city. It can be, but it certainly doesn’t have to be. More blog pieces to follow… If you want to find out about free/cheap things to do in Kyoto, well that’s a whole different set of blogposts.
Mat Eccles is our marathon running Englishman in Colorado. Mat has a huge passion for Japan and his American home in and wanted to share a bit about IJTUSA. So, here he is!
Back in 2010 InsideJapan Tours decided to spread its wings across the Pond and open a US Branch. At that time I was already living in beautiful Colorado, having left London in mid 2009 after enjoying four years working for an Asia specialist tour operator.
Colorado style
Often people I meet assume the US office would be based on either coast, but Colorado works perfectly. Not only does it fit with the overall ethos of the company as a whole, but being located in Mountain Time ensures that we can chat to clients all over the continent with ease.
Boulder
As with most things, even the most grand of plans start small, and so for a little under a year the office was based in my home, where I toiled alone spreading the word of IJT and building our already substantial base of North American (and a few Central and South American) clientèle. Being able to communicate with clients in a similar time zone is invaluable, and I was also able to attend various industry events and even appear on local radio espousing the many great things about an IJT vacation.
IJTUSAHQ
By early 2011 business was chugging along well, and, with an eye to expanding staff, we took a small office in downtown Boulder. For those who are unfamiliar with Boulder, it is a fantastic college town with a stunning mountain backdrop, great restaurants and bars, a wide variety of street performers and the penchant for attracting the slightly odd! In these respects it is not dissimilar to Bristol, where the UK Head Office is located. Just after the Boulder office was established, the tragedy of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami ravaged Japan. All thoughts of expansion were put on hold whilst we adjusted to the significantly altered Japan tourism landscape post March 11th.
IJT Crew
As we begin 2013 I am happy to report that, through the collective hard work of many, 2012 was a pretty successful year for IJT USA, and we now have a staff of three! Amy joined in June and Hagino in December. We have expanded into the neighbouring office suite, and now have an area for staff downtime, as well as a meeting place for local clients who want to pop in to say hello and chat all things Japan. The new space also allows us to expand our team which we expect to do in 2013, and continue to design the best, most interesting and fulfilling customized vacations to Japan.
Coming from the beautiful English Cotswolds, tour leader Richard Pearce has made his home in rural Tottori prefecture on the Japan Sea Coast since 2006. Like many of the InsideJapan Tours team he ended up in Japan on the JET programme teaching English in schools. Richard was shipped out to a little place called Sakaiminato in Tottori which you have probably never heard of….well that’s just how he likes it. Here is what he has to say about Tottori and his favourite place in Japan…..
Tottori-Ken is considered to be the most rural of prefectures in Japan, with the smallest population. Set along the Sea of Japan coast, Tottori-Ken is one of my favourite places in the world - A beautiful coastline, breathtaking mountain views, delicious seafood, friendly people and brimming with wildlife. Tottori has it all.
However, if I have to narrow it down further, I would have to say that my favourite place in Japan is the Mihonoseki Peninsula, just across the border into Shimane-Ken (sorry, Tottori!).
Stunning Daisen Oki national park
The whole area is part of the Daisen-Oki National Park, and is considered to be a “power spot” in Japan, spiritually and historically speaking. The Miho-jinja Shrine is particularly special and dates back to the 8th century. It is said to have been a favourite spot of legendary writer Lafcadio Hearn, who resided in nearby Matsue (his book Kwaidan; Stories and Studies of Strange Things is a fascinating read). I used to visit on a near weekly basis for a spot of spiritual cleansing and found it particularly good at clearing a fuzzy head on a Sunday morning.
Miho Jinja
Atop a nearby 150 metre hill is the Gohon-matsu park, which offers spectacular views of Mount Daisen, rising majestically from the ocean across the bay. According to literature dating back to the year 733, this mountain was formally called Ōkami – take , literally meaning ‘ Mountain of the Great God’, as it was regarded as one of the most important mountains for the Japanese Shugendo. The Gohon-matsu park is definitely my favourite “unofficial” camping spot in Japan.
Miho Coast
At the end of the peninsula is the Mihonoseki Lighthouse, built from stone in the late 19th Century. Here you can experience stunning panoramic views of the ocean and watch the numberous hawks circling overhead. However, be warned! It is said in local tradition that if you take your girlfriend here, you then have to marry her! I tend to go alone.
Sasago beach
On the northern side of the peninsula is the Mihono-kitaura coastline. Here you can enjoy an array of natural beauty, including inlets, precipices, caves and beaches. One particularly impressive beach is Sasago. The water here is crystal clear and the beach is very clean. I honestly believe it to be one of the best in Japan, outside of Okinawa. This stretch of coastline is also a wildlife lover’s paradise. I myself have been lucky enough to dive with two metre jellyfish and observe a variety of rare birds.
I have spent many a day and night hiking, camping, barbequeing, bike riding, swimming, relaxing and generally enjoying the Mihonoseki Peninsula. I hope to spend many more in the years to come.
Looks beautiful and a top tip from Richard there. I need to discover Tottori further….into the Shimane ‘district’ of the prefecture. I am sure that all from Shimane ken will be sending a big ‘Dan dan’ your way for the suggestion.
3. Gaze at the neon lights. The neon billboards in Tokyo’s Shinjuku neighborhood are colorful, fanciful and intriguing, for kids of any age.
